Some new faces have joined, while others have already been at the club for a number of years after progressing through the younger age groups at the Academy.
At an induction evening held at Molineux this week, the players and their parents were able to officially meet all the Academy coaching and administration staff.
They also heard about the programme they will be following over the two years of their scholarship, with the aim of winning their first professional contract.
Below, Academy manager Scott Sellars gives his view on the 16-year-olds who have joined the club full-time as first-year scholars:
Joe O'Shaughnessy
- Position: Goalkeeper
- Nationality: English/Irish
“Joe’s a goalkeeper who we signed from Burnley and he’s a big boy – about six foot five. He’s shown a lot of potential and came into us quite late last season, but he’s another really good acquisition for the Academy. Hopefully he can continue his development at the current rate and we will see his full potential.”
Joe Young
- Position: Goalkeeper
- Nationality: English
“Another Joe and another goalkeeper. Joe’s been with us a long time, since he was nine-years-old, and has already played for England at under-16s. He’s very good with his feet, and we feel that the two Joes are both excellent young goalkeepers and we really want them to push each other to improve. We feel the competition will be good for them both.”
Christian Marques
- Position: Defender
- Nationality: Swiss/Portuguese
“We signed Christian from Grasshoppers last year and he’s been at Wolves almost six months now. He played with the under-18s towards the end of last season but is already training with the first-team at just 16-years-old. He’s caught the eye of Nuno during pre-season and is part of the squad going out to China. He plays centre-back and is an excellent communicator, good technically and is a great passer of the ball. We see him in the mould of a Conor Coady, playing that central position, and we’re really pleased with how he’s developed in his time here.”
Jack Scott
- Position: Defender
- Nationality: Northern Irish
“Jack’s a Northern Irish international who we just signed this summer but is a player we have been chasing for quite a while now. There has been a lot of competition for him, so we’re really pleased that Jack has agreed to sign for us. He has played at right-back, but we think he can play anywhere as he’s a really versatile player, good athletically and has really good technical ability.
Chem Campbell
- Position: Midfielder
- Nationality: Welsh
“Chem’s a Welsh international who has been with us about four years now after we signed him from Birmingham. He’s another player who’s already been away with the first-team on their pre-season training camp at St George’s Park at just 16. He’s a central midfield player, who’s very attacking, a great dribbler who can beat players and score goals. He’s made a great start and scored a brilliant goal for the under-23s on Wednesday night. He’s got great potential and we’re really looking forward for him being in the building full-time where we can work with him more and help develop him further.”
Owen Hesketh
- Position: Midfielder
- Nationality: Welsh
“We signed Owen from Manchester City, he’s been there a long time and I knew him from my time at the club. He’s a Welsh international, can play across midfield, but we see him as an attacking midfield player who can score goals. He’s good technically and there were a few clubs after him, so we’re very pleased to get him signed to Wolves.”
Jack Hodnett
- Position: Midfielder
- Nationality: English
“Jack’s a local boy from Telford who’s been with the club for a long time. He’s a central midfield player, or he can play anywhere on the left-hand side. He’s got great quality, can beat players and can score goals. He’s earnt caps for England at under-15 and under-16 level, so he’s a player with real potential and we’re looking forwards to see how he develops.”
Hugo Bueno
- Position: Midfielder
- Nationality: Spanish
“Hugo was playing for a lower level Spanish club, but he’s got very good technical ability, he’s a player with an eye for goal. We think he’s got a lot of potential, so pleased he’s joined us.”
Dean Pinnington
- Position: Midfielder
- Nationality: English
“Dean’s from the Isle of Man, who’s been at our school – Thomas Telford – for quite a while now. He’s a midfield player with great energy and is good technically in terms of his passing. We’re very pleased with how he’s been developing, and we’re pleased he’s joined us full-time.”
Erik Bugarin
- Position: Forward
- Nationality: Spanish
“We signed Erik from Celta Vigo this summer and he plays as a centre-forward. He’s very clever, has great link-up ability, can score goals, and he also works really hard without the ball. A player that the scouts were watching, and we went across quite a few times to see him. He was keen to come to England so he can develop and further his career. We’re pleased that we were able to get him because there were a lot of suiters for him as he shows a lot of potential.”
Jaden Forrester
- Position: Forward
- Nationality: English
“Jaden’s another local boy who has been at the club for a long time. He’s a centre-forward, tall, shows good pace, is good technically and can really beat players, get at people and score goals. Again, we’re really pleased with the way Jaden has developed with us during his years in the Academy and happy that we can reward him with his scholarship.”
Lee Harkin
- Position: Forward
- Nationality: Northern Irish
“Lee is a Northern Irish player who has been in demand. He’s been over here to train with us for quite a few years now, since he was 14. He’s had a few clubs to choose from this summer, but I think his affiliation with the club and how he always enjoyed it when he came across to us was a big pull, so we’re really pleased that we got him in the end. He’s a striker and wide-player who’s really tricky and quick, he caused quite a stir at the Milk Cup last year in Northern Ireland where he scored a lot of goals and is another player with a lot of potential.”
Faisu Sangare
- Position: Forward
- Nationality: Liberian
“Faisu’s been with us about two years now after we signed him from Oldham. He’s a big, powerful centre-forward who is a very willing worker, has good hold-up play, and has got a lot of potential. Like a lot of the boys, we’re looking forwards to seeing him here as a full-time footballer.”
By playing the Goalden Gate Superdraw for just £1 a week you could help support Wolves Academy and be a part of helping build the future stars of tomorrow whilst also being in with a chance of winning our £1,000 jackpot and 60 more weekly prizes. As well as supporting the Academy, Goalden Gate Superdraw has helped raise over £100,000 for New Cross Hospital’s Maternity Unit amongst other good causes. To join today, please click here.
